For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:12  NIV

They lived on a magnificent ranch in a remote corner of Africa.  Their land was a haven for all kinds of God´s wonderful creatures.  But there was trouble in paradise.  The family eventually had to sell their beautiful farm.  They divided up the inheritance and each of the children invested their share in smaller properties.  But soon those dreams too were taken from them when the President of that country let his communist supporters run off the farmers who owned lands there.  Do we know what powers we struggle against?

We may struggle long and hard in this life just to get by.  It may be difficult to see our dreams accomplished and many times we may wonder if we will ever survive.  But our struggle is not just for a life here on earth.  There is a spiritual war going on.  Dark forces work unseen and will make our survival difficult.  But our goal is not just a comfortable or pleasant life here.  There is Heavenly Home with God that is our real inheritance.  Our real struggle is against any dark power that would keep us from being with our Lord today, or miss our opportunity to be with Him forever!  Shall we pray to God that we will realize our real situation so that we can turn from a merely earthly struggle and seek our place in the Father´s arms?

Dear Lord,

Lift our gaze above our struggles here!  Let us focus on You so that our future with You starts right here and now, we pray!

Amen